Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-06-10

was visited and quite sum TAKEN
Jerry claimed to have been a great
loser. for besides being chloro-
formed. he lost his last cent. Ex-
citement was intense. The men
began to SIT up all night, so as TO
guard their property
Jerr, ) misfortune only made hlm
more popular. Popularity seemed
TO turn his head, for he lett wal
ter's service, and openly announced
himself as a candidate for Annie's
hand. Fate seemed to smile on
him. for the village was again ex'
cited. The excitement was now
caused by the appearance OF a
Young lady giving her name as
Miss Downs, and occupation as
school-teacher. She rented a small
house and soon had a fine class
Walter met her on the road one
day and fell in love with her. AT
first he tried to mask his feelings,
but finding that Jerry and ANNE
we're getting along very nicely, ne
ran up his true colors and became
the ardent suitor of Miss Downs
Yet, withal, one angry word had
not yet been spoken by either An
ME or Walter himself.
Miss Downs soon became gen.
eral favorite, and her class began
to swell. Burglaries had grown to
be common occurrences and, in the
course of time, Miss Downs was a
victim.
She seemed to take the loss in a
matter. Of fact, way. But, if the
villagers could have been present
at a little conference that was held
in her house the following night,
about twelve, they would have
taken a different view of the affair.
The little assemblage was COM
posed of three strange men and
herself. They held a long conver-
sation, and along towards ! o'clock
all left the house save Miss Downs,
and going out on the road they
suddenly disappeared. Miss Downs
now turned down the light, changed
her entire dress, and shortly after
wards left the house.
Meanwhile Jerry Black had so
wrought himself into the affections
of the Rose family that the old
homestead was placed at his dis
posal. He was, at this date, press
ing his suit hard, with the hope OF
setting an early date for his mar
riage to Annie. AS to Walter,
well he had no time to lose think.
ing OF Annie, for he was buslly en-
gagged with Miss Downs. About
this time Mr.. Rose had sold strip
of land for snug sum, and on the
day after the burglary of Miss
Downs house he received the
amount in full. He took Jerry in
to his confidence and exacted of
him a promise to remain at the
house all night to guard the money.
Jerry was taken sick very sudden
ly, and could not fulfill his prom.
Use. 1t was with mlsgivings that
he retired that night just about
the time Miss Downs left her little
house.
The light in Mr.. Roses room had
been turned down about a half
hour when a man appeared in the
road Just south of the farm. He
walked very fast until he was op-
posite the gate, when he halted,
looked around, and then walked up
the lane to the house. AS he ap.
preached it huge dog sprang TO-
ward him. He halted long enough
to speak familiar word to the dog
and then proceeded on his way to.
ward the door unmolested by the
brute. The door yielded to the
mans key, and after looking around
once more he entered. No sooner
had the door closed than a slight
form sprang from behind a busf
close by and took up position
little to the left of the door. Th'
person gave signal, and two mel
suddenly appeared a few yard
from the house, while a fourth maj
sprang from behind a tree. The,
leveled their revolvers at the doc
while the first party turned tn
lurld glare of dark lantern on th
door also. Meanwhile they hear'
a noise upstairs, then a scream
and at last footsteps approaching
the door. A second elapsed befOr
the door opened and the thief stoo,
before them, baffied and entrapped
1t was Jerry Black. The first man
who was the leader of the party
ordered jerry to throw up hi
hands, which he did with grace
Then he was handcuffed, and whe
Mr.. Rose came down stairs hal
dead from fright, he was stsrtle
at seeing his intended sOn.in-laN
marched away as a burglar and
fugitive from New York Justice
The next morning when the schoo
children went to school they fOun
notice tackled up on the doc
which read:
b. "ClOsed for good.
8 Miss Downs"
t People wondered what happeDe
b. to Miss Downs. They were ne
Q kept in suspense very long, for thi
y same day Walter received lettt
!. | -.lill L.. rn.nnnI h,rn thnt llNIis